Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 90, Issue 12 , Pages 2125-2130, December 2009

Body Weight–Supported Treadmill Training for Patients With Hip Fracture: A Feasibility Study

  • Lora M. Giangregorio, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, and Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto
    • Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to Lora Giangregorio, PhD, Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON, N1H 8K4
    • ,
  • Lehana Thabane, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
    • Centre for Evaluation of Medicines, St Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, ON, Canada
    • ,
  • Justin deBeer, MD, FRCSC(Orth), FCSSA(Orth)

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
    • ,
  • Leonardo Farrauto, MD, FRCPC

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
    • ,
  • Neil McCartney, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
    • ,
  • Jonathan D. Adachi, MD, FRCPC

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
    • ,
  • Alexandra Papaioannou, MD, FRCPC

      Affiliations

    • Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
    • Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

Abstract 

Giangregorio LM, Thabane L, deBeer J, Farrauto L, McCartney N, Adachi JD, Papaioannou A. Body weight–supported treadmill training for patients with hip fracture: a feasibility study.

Objective

To determine the feasibility of body weight–supported treadmill training (BWSTT) as a strategy for improving independent ambulation among patients who had sustained a hip fracture.

Design

Nonrandomized controlled trial.

Setting

Inpatient rehabilitation.

Participants

Patients with a stable hip fracture and at least 50% weight-bearing.

Intervention

BWSTT in lieu of standard walking exercises throughout stay in rehabilitation.

Main Outcomes Measures

Feasibility outcomes included the number of patients agreeing to participate in treadmill walking, the number who returned for follow-up assessments, compliance, and the number of adverse events. Secondary outcomes included the Lower Extremity Functional Scale, the Timed Up & Go test, a 2-minute walk test, and the Falls Self-Efficacy Scale. Univariate regression was used to assess the group effect on score changes from baseline to discharge and from baseline to follow-up.

Results

Among 41 potentially eligible patients, 21 (51%) agreed to participate and 14 returned for follow-up assessments. The recruitment goal of 12 patients agreeing to BWSTT was achieved; however, retention by 3-month follow-up was 67%. The average compliance was 3 sessions a week; however, several patients were below average. No adverse events of BWSTT were reported. There were no significant differences between groups with respect to secondary outcomes.

Conclusions

BWSTT may be a feasible method for retraining gait among patients with hip fracture. However, future studies evaluating its efficacy need rigorous methods for ensuring compliance and retention.

Key Words: Hip fractures, Physical therapy techniques, Rehabilitation

List of Abbreviations: BWS, body weight support, BWSTT, body weight–supported treadmill training, LEFS, Lower Extremity Functional Scale, 2MWT, 2-minute walk test, TREND, Transparent Reporting of Evaluations with Nonrandomized Designs, TUG, Timed Up & Go

 

 Supported by the Hamilton Health Sciences New Investigator Fund (grant no. NIF-05055).

 Clinical trial registration no.: NCT00197496.

 No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit on the authors or on any organization with which the authors are associated.

 Reprints are not available from the author.

PII: S0003-9993(09)00724-2

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2009.06.022

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 90, Issue 12 , Pages 2125-2130, December 2009

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